Fresh Eyes

Had the wonderful experience of having my first 250 words in the contest on Miss Snark's First Victim. It confirmed to me an idea that had been solidifying in my mind: Everyone needs a good critique partner.

It doesn't matter how many times I rewrite. It's always going to makes sense to me. I know what's going on. But when someone else takes a look, problems are pointed out that are so obvious I have to smack myself for not seeing them.

But I think we're all like that. We all need someone to look at our work objectively; from a distance we can never really have with our own writing. Having readers helps to some extent, but there's no replacing the careful critique of another writer. Someone else who toils and labors and thinks about writing as much as you do.

I was lucky enough to get a lot of critique. Much of it said the same thing. I took a long look at my opening and saw places it could be fixed and reworked it. I'll post the rework in the next few days for comparison's sake.

But the other point was which of my main characters to open the story with. It's been a debate in my mind, but yesterday I wrote my 5th version of the first chapter. We'll see where that goes. Hopefully I can find critique partners to help me moving forward.

Ever After

I read this fabulous book that I must share with you. It's called THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS by John Connolly.

 

A young boy searches for solace over the death of his mother within the pages of old books high in his attic bedroom. And then the books start whispering to him.

It's a fabulous book that journeys through so many different fairy tales I couldn't keep track. It was brilliant and imaginative. Plus I've got a thing for reimagining of fairy tales.

What is it about fairy tales that engages our imaginations? I've always loved them. In high school I played the witch in the famous mash-up of fairy tales, Into the Woods. I think there might've been too much going on for my small town with its small minds to really appreciate. There was more going on than even I could see at the time.

But my love of fairy tales didn't start there. In the third grade my teacher had us all write plays based on familiar stories and fairy tales. Cinderella and the cheerleaders, the Three Little Pigs was was the Three Little Pencils and the Big Bad Eraser--incidentally, I played the big bad eraser. No wonder I have an affinity for good villains.

There's just something about a fresh take on a good fairy tale. I was in the bookstore yesterday, and there was a whole shelf labeled "Not your average fairy tales". Even at the movie theaters there are new versions of old classics.

So what is it? What makes them so irresistible? Why aren't we satisfied with Disney's watered down Cinderella? Why are there so many versions of these tales from so many cultures? What drives us to take these stories and tell them over and over again?

I have a few ideas of my own, but I'd like to know what you think.

The dark tales from the Grimm brothers have inspired so many stories, I'm excited to see what the world will do with 500 more fairy tales.